EANSO East African Nature and Science Organization Journals
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The Contributions of Community-Based Rehabilitation Services on Inclusive Education in Secondary Schools that Enrol Learners with Hearing Impairment in Tanzania
Get PDFThis study aimed to examine how Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) services contribute to inclusive education in secondary schools that enrol learners with hearing impairment in Tanzania. The study is guided by the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework and grounded in a constructivist paradigm, which supported a qualitative, exploratory case-study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and document reviews with a criterion purposive sample of 27 participants (8 teachers, 3 officials from voluntary organisations, and 16 learners with hearing impairments). Individual interviews were conducted with teachers and voluntary organisation officials, while learners with hearing impairments participated in a focus group discussion. Interview and focus group data were analysed using thematic analysis, followed by content analysis of the reviewed documents and observations. Findings indicated that CBR services facilitate teaching processes, increase engagement and participation, training of teachers in inclusive teaching practices, and enhance the academic performance of learners with hearing impairment in their national examinations. The study offered several recommendations: The study drew several recommendations, first, the government to consider continuity of services for learners with hearing impairment once the community-based rehabilitation project is over. Second, teachers embrace the Universal Design of Learning principles of representation, engagement, and expression to meet the learning needs of all learners in inclusive schools. Third, voluntary organisations adopt a bottom-up approach, from planning to implementation. Finally, the study suggests that future research could adopt a pragmatist paradigm and mixed methods to combine qualitative insights with quantitative data, thereby informing government policies on inclusive education more effectively
Silver Nanoparticle Elecrocatalyst Embedded onto Indium Tin Oxide Electrodes for Degradation of Azo Dyes
Get PDFThe research was conducted to establish the effectiveness of silver nanoparticles embedded in indium tin oxide (ITO) thin film conducting material in causing the textile azo dye effluent degradation. The percentages of azo dye degradation were as follows: 68.4%, 72.5% and 93.1% using electrocoagulation, ITO and ITO-AgNPs coupled electrodes, respectively. The results obtained from the two-factor ANOVA with replication indicated a significant difference (p = 0.0024) when the silver nanoparticles embedded on indium tin oxide electrodes were utilised in the degradation of these azo dyes in the effluent samples. The colour removal was 99.97% showing that the optimised process was effective and efficient in the degradation of these azo dyes in the textile wastewaters
Kenya Coastal and Marine Tourism Resilience: A Victim of Resource Curse Dynamics?
Get PDFDespite abundant coastal and marine tourism resources in Kenya, the country’s coastal tourism sector has experienced stagnation and vulnerability – a paradox of plenty reminiscent of a “resource curse.” This study investigates whether Kenya’s coastal tourism has fallen victim to resource curse dynamics and identifies pathways to enhance the sector’s resilience. A qualitative case study approach is employed, drawing on analysis of secondary data (policy documents, tourism statistics, and scholarly literature) to examine how factors such as governance quality, rent-seeking and elite capture, Dutch Disease effects, and institutional fragility mediate the relationship between resource abundance and tourism performance. The findings reveal that weak governance, concentrated benefits among elites, neglect of complementary sectors, and fragmented institutions have impeded inclusive and sustainable growth, echoing patterns observed in classic natural resource curse scenarios. These dynamics undermine the region’s competitiveness and resilience to shocks. To counter this “tourism resource curse,” the study recommends strengthening multi-level governance and accountability, diversifying tourism products and linkages, investing in local human capital, and safeguarding environmental assets. Implementing these transformative strategies is critical for converting coastal Kenya’s rich marine and cultural endowments into broad-based prosperity and sustainable development within the Blue Economy framework
Marketing Agility: A Critical Review of Literature
Get PDFThe current business environment is highly dynamic, with frequent changes in customer needs and technology. The success of business firms in such a scenario depends on their ability to adopt and engage in agile marketing practices. This article offers a critical review of existing literature on the concept of marketing agility, beginning with definitions, the various dimensions of marketing agility, as well as the antecedents and market factors that influence the need for marketing agility. The article also reviewed the various obstacles to marketing agility that exist in business firms as well as the benefits of agile marketing practices. In terms of theoretical perspectives, the Resource-Based Theory and the Dynamic Capabilities Theory were examined in detail to help explain how marketing agility can be a source of competitive advantage for business firms. The article concluded that marketing agility is directly linked to digital transformation since the business environment is characterised by a high rate of technological advancement, which includes the use of Artificial Intelligence in business activities. Marketing agility enables firms to rapidly make adjustments to their marketing strategies in anticipation of or in response to market changes. The article provided relevant recommendations for managers of business firms, such as investing in the training of employees in agile marketing practices and the use of digital tools like cloud computing and data analytic
Enhancing Millennial Workforce Motivation Through Flexible Work Arrangements: A Systematic Review
Get PDFThis systematic review investigates whether flexible work arrangements (FWAs) serve as effective motivators for millennial employees in contemporary workplaces. Millennials, born between 1980 and 2000, now constitute a significant proportion of the global workforce and exhibit distinct work preferences, particularly regarding autonomy, flexibility and work-life balance. The review is anchored in the Self-Determination Theory and Generational Theory to understand the psychological and generational underpinnings of motivation among millennials. The study employed a qualitative design, utilising systematic review methodology to analyse peer-reviewed articles. These studies were selected from Google Scholar using inclusion criteria that prioritised research-based articles addressing both flexible work arrangements and millennial motivation. Findings consistently demonstrated a positive impact between FWAs such as flex-time, remote working, telecommuting, compressed hours and job sharing and heightened motivation among millennials. Millennials were found to value flexibility in determining where, when and how they work, which in turn fostered a greater sense of autonomy, competence and relatedness to the core tenets of Self-Determination Theory. The study revealed that while flexible work arrangements are strong motivational factors, other elements like compensation, career development, recognition and inclusive organisational culture also contribute to overall engagement and retention of millennials. Based on the findings, the study recommends that organisations should institutionalise clear, inclusive and well-communicated FWA policies, invest in supportive technology infrastructure and train managers in remote supervision and trust-based leadership. Such strategic implementations will not only boost millennial motivation but also contribute to sustainable organisational performance in the digital era
Input Factors and Industrial Sector Growth in Uganda (1986-2024)
Get PDFThis study investigates the effects of input factors on the growth of Uganda’s industrial sector. Specifically, it examines the impact of Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF), investment in education, and population growth. A longitudinal research design was used to analyse changes over time, utilising secondary data from reputable national and international sources. The data was processed using STATA 14, which is effective for time series analysis. Findings show that increasing investment in GFCF, such as factories, machinery, and infrastructure, significantly boosts industrial growth, particularly in the short term through job creation and increased output. However, in the long run, the benefits diminish unless complemented by improvements in skilled labour and institutional support. In contrast, investment in education showed no direct effect on industrial growth, possibly due to a mismatch between education outputs and industrial job demands. Additionally, population growth alone was not found to drive industrial expansion, indicating that sheer numbers in the workforce do not guarantee increased productivity. The study recommends that the Government of Uganda continue prioritising investment in industrial infrastructure, especially in energy, transport, and manufacturing hubs. To improve education's relevance, greater emphasis should be placed on technical and vocational education and training (TVET), along with stronger industry-academic linkages and curriculum reforms. Furthermore, policymakers should promote labour-intensive industries like agro-processing, textiles, and construction, and support entrepreneurship and inclusive employment incentives, particularly targeting youth and women
Modeling Consumer Behavior and its Impact on Choosing a Competitive Strategy - A Survey Study of the Opinions of a Sample of Mobile Phone Shopping Stores in Kirkuk City
Get PDFStudying and understanding consumer behaviour is considered one of the ways to choose a competitive strategy, but understanding consumer behaviour is very difficult due to the many factors that overlap and interact with each other. Therefore, modelling consumer behaviour aims to simplify this difficulty by identifying the most important factors and showing the relationship between them. This study aims to understand the extent of the impact of modelling consumer behaviour on the choice of competitive strategy represented by its dimensions (cost leadership strategy, focus strategy, and differentiation strategy). Accordingly, the researcher selected a deliberate random sample consisting of 70 workers in mobile phone stores in Kirkuk city and relied on the questionnaire as a tool for collecting data and information and analysing it using the statistical program SPSS. A number of statistical analyses were used, including the arithmetic mean and standard deviation, to determine the extent of employees' awareness of the study variables. Correlation and influence analysis between the study variables was also used. The study reached several conclusions, including: There is a significant correlation between consumer behaviour modelling and competitive strategy selection, and there is a significant impact of consumer behaviour modelling on competitive strategy selection. The study also found that most mobile phone stores use a cost leadership strategy for a number of brands based on customer desires. The study presented a set of proposals, namely: The surveyed stores should use influential figures in advertisements to introduce customers to prestigious brands to attract their desires, and work on analysing the marketing environment to understand customer trends and provide value propositions based on customer income. The surveyed stores should adopt an appropriate competitive strategy based on monitoring competitors' movements in the market
Querying the Application of University-Acquired Employability Competences among Fresh Secondary Teacher Education Graduates in Uganda
Get PDFThe study investigated the application of university-embedded teaching skills in teaching and Learning by Fresh Education graduates in Mid-Western Uganda. It employed a qualitative method of data collection and analysis. This cross-sectional narrative found that teachers express themselves positively about the training they received while at the university, through innovative teaching methods, the quality application of the professional Code of Conduct, and sharing social experiences that motivate them. This is achieved by building strong relationships with students and helping learners recognise their abilities to the fullest by fostering creativity through confidence in them. Their adherence to proper classroom management as well as their promotion of a safe learning environment to enhance good teacher-student relationships. However, prior classroom management could lead to other pre-social disengaging and destructive behaviours that could be detrimental to learning and fresh teachers need to adopt and encompass preventive and responsive strategies to support and facilitate both social and emotional learning in the classroom. In Conclusion, institutions, more so Universities, need to emphasize the teaching of the latest pedagogical skills that enhance a whole round Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) teacher such as Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Emotional Intelligence, and Human Resource Management, among others with supportive and continuous Guidance and counselling among the students taught to build and enhance a high level of Academic Performanc
Examining the Relationship between Stressors and Coping Strategies Used by Teacher-Trainees in Universities in Central Region, Uganda
Get PDFStress is an integral part of the student’s university life that calls for appropriate coping measures. Guided by the Transactional Appraisal Theory of stress and coping, this study examined the relationship between stressors and coping strategies used by pre-service teacher-trainees in universities in the Central region of Uganda. The study was quantitative in nature and adopted a cross-sectional survey research design on a target population of 7502 teacher-trainees. Five hundred fifty-four (554) pre-service teacher-trainees from year one to year three on two programs of study were selected using a simple random sampling strategy. The study involved 254 (45.8%) males and 300 (54.2%) females with an average age of 24 years. The findings revealed academic difficulties and time pressure as key stressors. The findings further revealed a significant positive relationship between stressors and coping strategies used by pre-service teacher-trainees to mitigate stress (r = 0.469, p = 0.000<0.05, n=554). Although teacher-trainees adopted myriad coping strategies simultaneously, the findings revealed that the majority used avoidant coping strategies (β = 0.550, p = 0.000<0.05), followed by problem-focused coping (β=0.439, p = 0.000<0.05) and emotion-focused coping strategies (β = 0.363, p=0.000<0.05). Thus, the study underscored the importance of adaptive coping strategies in mitigating stressful situations. The study recommends awareness and orientation of students in university life, strengthening counselling services, and introducing mindfulness programs to enhance the students’ problem-solving and adaptation-solving skill
Community Participation and Retention of Learners in Government-Aided Secondary Schools in Kazo Sub-County, Kazo District
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of community participation on the retention of learners in government-aided secondary schools in Kazo Sub-County, Kazo District, Uganda. The primary objectives were to assess the current retention rates, identify the levels and forms of community involvement, and examine the relationship between community participation and retention of learners. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative data from structured questionnaires administered to learners, teachers, and key stakeholders, with qualitative insights from interviews with district officials, headteachers, and PTA members. The sample comprised 341 respondents selected through purposive and random sampling techniques. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation to establish relationships. Results indicated a generally positive perception of community participation's role in retention, with frequent PTA meetings, community support for infrastructure, and local leadership involvement being prominent factors. Quantitative analysis revealed a weak but significant positive correlation (r=0.134, p=0.009) between community participation and learner retention. The findings conclude that while community involvement contributes to improved retention, other factors also influence learner persistence. The study recommends increasing community engagement efforts, strengthening school-community partnerships, and implementing policies that formally recognise community roles in education. The study contributes to the limited literature on rural pastoral communities, emphasising the need for targeted interventions to enhance learner retention through active community involvemen